For six years, I waited to become Alpha Kael’s marked mate and official Luna.

The first time, Lyra—his dead brother’s mate—called crying about a rogue attack. He left me at the altar and ran to save her, but it turned out that she had just gotten lost wandering in the woods.

The second time, he never showed up because Lyra had threatened to commit suicide. Later I found out he had given her the Luna necklace because her wolf needed protection more than mine.

The third time, I went searching for him and found him at her prenatal appointment, his hand on her belly.

He didn’t know I was carrying his pup too.

Heartbroken, I decided to leave. After I disappeared, he went crazy looking for me.

Serena’s POV

Today was the third time Kael and I were supposed to complete our marking ceremony. This time, I only invited a few pack members, because I couldn’t bear another public humiliation.

I had been nauseous and feverish since yesterday, but I refused to let it ruin today. This was the day of my mating ceremony, and afterward, I would finally tell Kael about the pup.

I touched my stomach through the white ceremony dress and smiled despite the nausea.

Elder Miriam was arranging the sacred herbs on the altar. My best friend, Claire, kept glancing around, watching for Kael. The few pack members I had invited sat quietly, waiting.

It was almost thirty minutes to the ceremony, and I hadn’t seen Kael yet.

My phone buzzed. Finally.

But it wasn’t Kael. It was his beta, Derek.

— Derek: Serena, Kael’s at the pack clinic with Lyra. She collapsed with a high fever. He said to start without him, he’ll be there soon.

My hands trembled holding the phone. He wanted me to start without him, at our marking ceremony.

— Derek: He’s really sorry. He just wants to make sure she’s stable first.

I looked up at the waiting faces.

“He’s been delayed. He will be here soon,” I announced, forcing my voice to remain steady even though my heart was breaking.

Quiet murmurs rose across the crowd. They all knew what was coming next.

An hour passed.

I kept checking my phone, but there was no message.

Claire squeezed my hand softly with pity in her eyes. “Serena… maybe we should postpone.”

Her words broke the last bit of hope inside me, but she was right.

I nodded slowly, then looked at Elder Miriam. “I’m sorry. We’ll have to reschedule.”

The pack members filed out quietly. No one met my eyes, but I could see the pity on their faces.

Claire hugged me before leaving. “I’m so sorry, Sera.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, and my throat tightened.

Once everyone left, I stood alone in the empty grove. My hand moved to my stomach again.

Maybe if I told him about the pup, things would change. Maybe he would finally see me and choose me because this wasn’t just about us anymore, but about our pup.

I grabbed the bouquet of moonflowers from the altar and the pregnancy test I had hidden in my bag. My hands shook as I held them both.

This would work. It had to work.

I headed toward the clinic, my chest burning with hope.

As I walked, I imagined his reaction. He would smile. He would pull me into his arms. He would apologize for missing the ceremony and that nothing would ever come between us again.

However, as I got towards the room that Lyra was, I froze as I stared through the open door.

Lyra was lying on the bed, laughing at something. She didn’t look sick at all.

A healer was there, operating the ultrasound machine.

And Kael stood beside Lyra with his hand resting on her rounded belly, staring at the screen with an expression I had never seen before.

Wonder. Joy. Love.

“There’s the heartbeat,” the healer said, “Strong and healthy.”

“It’s perfect,” Kael whispered. His voice shook with emotion.

Lyra placed her hand over his. “Our pup is perfect.”

Our pup.

The bouquet slipped from my fingers.

The world tilted. My breath caught in my throat. For a heartbeat, I forgot how to breathe. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

I watched the way he looked at her. The way his hand cradled her stomach like it was the most precious thing in the world. My heart shattered into pieces.

How long had this been going on?

Kael leaned down and kissed Lyra’s forehead gently. His hand never left her stomach.

“I’ll take care of you both,” Kael promised. “I swear it. You and the pup will never want for anything.”

Their pup.

My hand instinctively moved to my own stomach, to the pup growing inside me that he knew nothing about. The pup I had been so excited to tell him about. The pup I thought would fix everything.

But he already had a pup. With her.

While I had been waiting, planning, hoping, he had been building a family with someone else.

Tears blurred my vision. I stepped back from the door, then back again, crushing the flowers under my feet.

I turned and ran before the sob could escape my throat.

I made it a few miles before I collapsed against a tree, finally letting myself break. Six years. Six years of waiting, of understanding, of being patient while he gave everything to her.

And now this.

My whole body shook with sobs I couldn’t control. Every cancelled ceremony, every time he ran to her side, and every promise he had broken all made sense now.

I pressed my hand over my stomach, whispering an apology to the pup inside me. “I’m sorry, pup. I’m sorry your father never wanted us.”

My phone was still in my hand. I dialed before I could think about it.

“Sera?” My father’s voice sounded confused.

“I’m coming home, Dad.” My voice shook.

Serena’s POV

“What are you talking about, Serena? I thought you were madly in love with Kael,” my father asked, still confused.

I laughed as bitter tears ran down my face. “I was such a blind fool, but not anymore. I will bond with Alpha Williams.”

My father’s tone darkened. “What did that bastard do to you, Sera? Tell me right now. Let me teach him a lesson.” He growled through the phone.

I smiled softly, even though I knew he couldn’t see me. “Don’t worry, Dad. He just showed me the truth that I was too blind to see.”

“When are you coming home?” His voice softened, but I could hear the edge in it.

“Seven days,” I replied. “I need to finalize the release paperwork.”

There was a pause. “Seven days. Alright, sweetheart. But if he gives you any trouble at all, call me immediately. Do you understand?”

“I will. I promise.”

“Your mother and I—we never stopped waiting for you. We love you, Serena. Always.”

My throat tightened painfully. “I love you too, Dad.”

The call ended.

I let the phone fall from my hand and pressed my back against the tree as fresh tears ran down my face, more than before.

My parents. Alpha Henry and Luna Helena of the Nightshade Pack. One of the most powerful and respected packs in the entire region.

I had abandoned them. I had walked away from my birthright, my future, everything they had built for me.

All because I loved Kael.

They had wanted me to bond with Alpha Williams, their closest ally’s son. A strong, honorable alpha from a powerful pack. A man who had loved me, treated me with respect, and promised to cherish me as his Luna.

But I had refused him.

I had stood before the entire Nightshade Pack and announced that Kael was my chosen mate, that I would leave everything to follow him to his smaller pack.

My mother had cried that day as she begged me to reconsider.

My father had argued and tried everything to make me see sense.

But I refused to listen. I was so sure, so confident that Kael and I were meant to be together.

I had wasted six years waiting for a man who was too busy to show up to our marking ceremony, waiting for a man who was having a pup with his late brother’s wife.

Six years of being the second choice. Six years of understanding, patience and making excuses for him.

Alpha Williams would have never treated me this way. He would have marked me immediately, proudly. He would have shown me off as his Luna, cherished me, and protected me.

But I had thrown that away for Kael.

How stupid I had been.

***

The next day, I walked into Kael’s office at the pack house.

He was at his desk, going through some documents before him. When he saw me, he immediately stood, guilt flickering through his face.

“Sera! I’m so sorry about what happened. Lyra had a medical emergency, and I couldn’t just leave her—”

“I understand,” I cut him off with a small smile. “You were taking care of someone who needed you.”

He blinked, clearly surprised I wasn’t angry. “You’re… you’re not upset?”

“No, I’m not,” I said carefully. “We can always reschedule the ceremony.”

His shoulders sagged with relief. “Thank you. Thank you so much for understanding. I promise you, Sera, the next ceremony will happen. Nothing will stop it this time. I swear on my life.”

I nodded as he eagerly pulled up his calendar.

“How about six days from now?” he suggested. “We don’t want to waste any more time.”

“That sounds perfect,” I replied.

He smiled at me with the same charming smile that had made me fall in love with him six years ago.

Now it just made me feel disgusted.

“You’re amazing, Sera. You know that?” He walked around his desk toward me. “So patient, and so understanding. This is exactly why I knew from the start that you would make the perfect Luna for this pack.”

He reached out to place a kiss on my lips, but I stepped back slightly.

“Actually, there’s something I need to discuss with you first. Something important.”

“Of course. What do you need?” he asked, looking at me expectantly.

I reached into my bag and carefully pulled out the papers I had prepared. “It’s about Lyra.”

His expression immediately shifted to concern. “What about her? Is something wrong?”

“No. Nothing’s wrong,” I said quickly. “It’s just that her birthday is coming up next month, and I’ve been thinking. With everything that’s happened with the postponed ceremonies, and all the time you’ve spent helping her—”

He cut me off immediately with a frown on his face. “What are you getting at? I told you that—”

I interrupted him. “Some pack members might think there’s tension between her and me because of all these.”

Kael’s frown deepened. “That’s ridiculous.”

“I know, but I want to make sure there’s no misunderstanding about us,” I continued smoothly. “So I thought I should get her something special for her birthday. A significant gift that shows the pack there’s no ill will between us. Something meaningful that demonstrates I support her.”

His eyes lit up with approval. “That’s a wonderful idea, Sera. Really thoughtful and wise of you.”

“The thing is,” I said, placing the papers on his desk, “it might be expensive depending on what she needs. And since I would be using pack funds for this, I need your authorization as Alpha.”

He barely glanced at the papers before reaching for a pen from his desk drawer. “Of course, of course. Get her whatever she wants or needs. Don’t even worry about the price.”

I watched carefully as he signed his name at the bottom instantly. He didn’t read a single word. He didn’t ask what I planned to buy. He didn’t question the amount or even glance at the details.

He just signed.

For six years, I had managed the pack’s finances. I had managed every dime, refused to buy myself anything that wasn’t a pressing need, and wore the same worn clothes year after year.

Kael had always praised me for that. He said I was setting a perfect example and that it showed what a responsible, selfless Luna I would be.

But for Lyra? He didn’t even care about the price.

“There,” he said, handing the papers back to me with a satisfied smile. “That should cover whatever you want to get her. This is really kind of you, Sera. It means a lot to me that you’re making such an effort to make Lyra feel welcomed and supported in the pack.”

I carefully folded the pack release papers, because that was what they actually were, and placed them back in my bag.

“Thank you,” I said quietly. “This really means everything to me.”

He pulled me into a hug before I could step away, and I forced myself not to stiffen or pull back, or show any reaction that might make him suspicious.

“I’m the luckiest alpha alive,” he murmured into my hair. “You’re so understanding, so selfless, and so kind. You’re going to make an incredible Luna, Sera. The pack is lucky to have you. I’m lucky to have you.”

I closed my eyes, resisting the urge to shudder in disgust.

‘No,’ I thought to myself. ‘You had me. And you threw me away.’

“I should go,” I said, pulling away from his embrace. “I have a lot of planning to do for Lyra’s gift.”

“Of course, of course. Let me know if you need anything else at all.”

I walked out of his office with the signed release papers in my bag.

In six days, I would be gone.

And Kael would finally understand exactly what he had lost.

Serena’s POV

When I got back to the house, I immediately went to the bedroom and pulled out my bag from the closet.

I didn’t have much to pack. Six years in this pack, and I had accumulated so little.

I had given up everything for Kael. I had given up my title, my inheritance, my future, and somehow I had ended up with almost nothing to show for it.

As I folded a sweater, my eyes caught the framed photograph sitting on the nightstand. It was from our first year together. Kael and I stood in front of the pack house, his arm around my waist, both of us smiling at the camera.

I was wearing the Luna necklace in that picture.

My hand instinctively moved to my bare throat, touching the empty space where the necklace should have been.

My chest tightened painfully as the memory flashed through my mind.

The second postponed ceremony was two years ago. After waiting for several hours, Kael had sent a message saying that Lyra was having a crisis. She had threatened to take her own life because she couldn’t bear the grief of losing her mate anymore.

I had understood, of course. How could I not? Lyra had lost Kael’s brother, Marcus, in a rogue attack three years before. She was still mourning, still fragile. Of course Kael needed to be there for her.

But then, two weeks later, I had seen Lyra at the pack gathering wearing my Luna necklace around her neck.

The sacred necklace that had been passed down through Kael’s family for generations. The necklace that was supposed to mark me as the future Luna of his pack.

When I had asked Kael about it, he had pulled me aside with a soft expression.

“Her wolf is unstable right now because of the grief,” he had explained. “The Luna necklace has protective properties. It’ll help ground her, keep her wolf from going feral. It’s just temporary, Sera. Just until she’s stronger.”

Just temporary.

That was two years ago, and Lyra still wore it.

I turned away from the photograph, my vision blurring with tears, as I continued packing.

On the dresser there was an invitation slip. It was the invitation slip from our first ceremony.

The first time Kael had left me at the altar.

Four years ago, I had stood in front of nearly the entire pack, waiting for him to arrive. Everything had been perfect. The decorations, the flowers, the sacred altar had been prepared by Elder Miriam, and Kael was there.

And then Lyra had called, crying hysterically about a rogue attack.

Kael had taken off without even glancing at me, and he hadn’t come back.

The pack members had waited for two hours before finally leaving, whispering among themselves, and looking at me with pity.

Later, I found out there had been no rogue attack at all. Lyra had simply gotten lost while walking in the woods and had panicked.

But by then, the ceremony was ruined, and I had been humiliated.

I had forgiven him. Because that’s what I always did.

I forgave him for the first ceremony. I forgave him for the second. I had been ready to forgive him for the third time.

Until I saw him with his hand on Lyra’s pregnant belly, looking at her with more love than he had ever shown me.

Lyra, his dead brother’s mate. The woman he had promised Marcus he would protect and care for. The fragile, delicate wolf who always seemed to be in one trouble or another whenever Kael and I had something important planned.

And now she was carrying his pup.

How long had they been together? How many times had he lied to me, told me he was “just checking on her” or “making sure she was safe”?

I sat on the edge of the bed with tears streamed down my face as six years of pain came flooding out.

My hand moved to my stomach, to the pup I carried. At least I had this. At least I had a piece of something that was mine.

My phone rang, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Dad.

I wiped my eyes quickly and answered. “Hi, Dad.”

“Sera, sweetheart. How are you holding up?” His voice was gentle, concerned.

“I’m okay,” I lied. “I got the release papers signed today.”

“Good. That’s good.” He paused. “Do you want to come home now?”

I shook my head. “No dad. I have other things to do here. In six days, I’ll be home.”

“We’ll be ready for you. Your mother has been preparing your old room.” His voice softened. “We’ve missed you so much, Sera.”

Fresh tears spilled down my cheeks. “I’ve missed you too, Dad. More than you know. I’m so sorry for—”

“No apologies,” he cut me off gently. “You’re coming home. That’s all that matters now.”

“I love you,” I whispered.

“We love you too, sweetheart. So much.”

Just as I ended the call, I heard the front door open downstairs.

“Sera?” Kael’s voice called out, climbing up the stairs. “Are you home?”

He appeared in the bedroom doorway.

His eyes immediately went to the open bag on the bed, then to the clothes I had laid out. Panic flashed across his face.

“Where are you going?” he demanded, stepping into the room. His eyes darted around. “What’s going on, Sera?”

I forced a smile to my face as I carefully folded the sweater in my hands and placed it in the bag.

“I’m just rearranging my closet, Kael.”

Some of the panic left his expression. “Oh. Of course. That makes sense..” He ran a hand through his hair.

He opened his mouth to say something more, when a soft, feminine voice called from downstairs.

“Kael? Where are you?”

Lyra.